Zahir) and the affirmation of the Inward (Al-Batin) in the sixteenth of his questions, which is: "Do not seek the knowledge of the Outward, for you shall perish." And the answer: "Seek the knowledge of the Inward, for in it is salvation from the Fire."

He also bestowed grace upon us in another question from the Book of Proofs (Kitab al-Dala'il), which is a question about: {Iram of the Pillars}? The answer: {Iram of the Pillars} is the embellished outward knowledge ('Ilm al-Zahir) that is deemed favorable by its adherents.

He also favored us in this question regarding {the Tree forbidden to eat from}? The answer: The Tree is the allegiance (Walaya) of the Opposites (Al-Addad); eating from it is listening to their knowledge, leaning toward them, and validating their affairs. Another answer: {The Cursed Tree in the Quran} refers to the disbelievers—may God Almighty curse them.

Then he excelled, bestowed grace, and acted kindly in another question concerning [the rule] that smiling during prayer does not sever it, but loud laughter (Al-Qahqaha) does? His saying: "Smiling does not sever the prayer" refers to practicing dissimulation (Taqiya) with the Opposites when an Opposite holds authority over him; meaning, it does not sever Gnosis (Al-Ma‘rifa) as long as its conviction is held in his heart. As for loud laughter, it is the allegiance to the Opposites with absolute certainty and leaning toward them in love; whoever does this, God has severed from him the sources of His Wisdom. In another aspect: Do not